Oliver

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Growing up in Malaysia, I had no ideal what ‘personal style’ was… Heck! I didn’t even know that ‘style’ was a thing until a couple of years ago. For the looooongest time I just wore what I thought looked kind of decent, without actually knowing if it suited me… even though I like to think I’d always had an eye for it. Whatever ‘it’ is.

Having experimented with my personal style quite a bit – especially recently, having acquired my first piercing and changed up the same slicked-back hair I’d worn for years – I decided to share what I’ve learnt from my journey to finding my own personal style. Continue Reading

It’s hard to believe it’s been over three months since I last blogged… after such a long break, it’s about time I started blogging again, because #NewYearNewMe and all that.

My last post was a #TravelTuesday entry following my trip to Malta in Oct – shortly after which I received the devastating news of my father’s passing. This is not something I’ve ever explicitly disclosed or discussed on my social channels (but to those who asked why I was home in Malaysia / showed concern – thank you!) but it was quite a life-changing event for me, as cheesy as it may sound.

To sum up, these are the lessons I learned having spent a few weeks with the fam after the tragedy : one) if you have people in your life who love you and care about you, you are truly blessed, and you have everything you need in life. two) always, always make time for said people. three) you should also aim to make time for things you enjoy doing, because last but not least)I’ve said this before, but I don’t think it could ever be stressed enough; the only time you have – really – is now.

Hence why I’m so eager to get back into blogging. It’s a platform that’s opened so many doors for me and I met some of my best friends through blogging – but I wasn’t quite ready until now.

So, I hope you guys keep an eye out for my future posts. I have a few exciting travel plans for upcoming months and I’m hoping to share more outfit posts from now on… because I never took a break from shopping. 😉

As I mentioned at the end of my previous post in the series, I was going to spend a (long) weekend in Malta, and I did. It was a brilliant change of scenery in the sun and sea, and I learned quite a bit about the archipelago that no blogs, tourists info sites, or Tripadvisor tips had prepared me for… Continue Reading

Words: @oliverinstead • Photo: Myself • Location: The city of Pest, from Buda

One of the most asked questions when I told people that I was going on a trip by myself / have gone on a trip by myself was : “Can you not find someone to go with you?” And my internal response was “Um, must I have a companion to travel?”

So in this week’s #TravelTuesday, I just want to talk about five reasons why I sometimes choose to travel by myself, and why you should do the same at some point (in fact, various points) in your lifetime.Continue Reading

As you may have noticed from my Instagram (follow me), I spent my last Bank Holiday weekend in Berlin and as with all my previous Euro trips, I’ve returned with five tips (?) I’d like to share with those of you who may be planning on a trip there or have always been curious about what the city is really like…

one It’s huuuuuge!

The size of Berlin is no joke. If you’re going there soon, make sure you prepare yourself and your feet (bring comfy shoes) for lots and lots of walking and transferring between S- and U-Bahn. Be sure to allow ample travelling time between one tourist spot and another, especially if you’re only there for a short period of time and aiming to hit all the major attractions in one trip.

two Vegetarianism is not a thing

Maybe I’m asking for too much here because the Germans are known for their carnivorism, or maybe I just didn’t know where to look… but honestly, I struggled to find many restaurants that served decent vegetarian options.
However, I did stumble upon a ‘vegetarian butcher’ on my first day in Bergmannkiez called Der Vegetarische Metzger (check out their website) They serve a selection of very tasty, very convincing cruelty-free ‘burgers’ and currywurst (!) – something I really wanted to try but wasn’t sure if I’d be able to find a veggie version but I did.

three The Sunday flea market at Mauerpark is a must

I love checking out local markets when I’m travelling, and this particular flea market is possibly the best one I’ve ever visited in all of Europe – it’s a good mix of indie makers and food vendors, and vintage clothing and antique furniture. Again, it takes at least a good hour or two to see it properly so remember not to make other plans for the day.

four …so is Potsdam

Potsdam is a city bordering Berlin about an hour train-ride away from Alexanderplatz… providing that the train runs smoothly. The area is famous for its complex of palaces and parks, which is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site so you can be assured that it’s as magnificent and beautifully quaint in the flesh as it is in photos. It’s also completely free to have a wander around the parks and the Sanssouci Garden, so if the weather permits, it makes for a great day out away from the city. Yes, it is outside Berlin so if you have a day to spare, you should deffo consider the option of visiting Potsdam – it’s worth it.

five You can do Berlin on the cheap

There are so many free things that you can do in and around Berlin – including all the attractions I’ve mentioned, and more… such as the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe (aka the Holocaust Memorial), the Reichstag dome, the historic Tempelhof Airport, etc. etc. etc.

Transport-wise, we paid for a 72-hour Berlin Welcome Card (for Zone AB and C, so we could visit Potsdam), but I was under the impression that many people didn’t bother with tickets… which was shocking to me considering Germany’s reputations. What’s even more surprising was that we did not see an ticket inspector throughout the entire trip. So if you’re ever in Berlin, it’s up to you whether you want to risk getting caught on the off-chance for travelling without a valid ticket or you want to be a good tourist… I’m not saying it’s right, I’m just saying that a lot of people do and successfully get away with it.

If I must be honest, Berlin is not my fave European city ever – I mean the weather treated us well and all but would I rush to return? Probably not, at least not by choice. I know many people who’ve been who’d happily go back at the drop of a hat, so I’m glad I went and made up my own mind and I’d recommend anyone to do the same!

What about you? Have you ever been to Berlin? If you say “Ja!“, what did you think of it? If you say “Nein…“, would you like to go? Let me know!!